I love looking through catalogs with occupational and physical and speech therapy goodies. Lots of cool gear, but the prices are usually enough to stop me cold. Still, they're great for scoping out ideas that can be created on something closer to a parent's budget. Things like fidget toys, weighted items, oral motor tools, or tactile experiences can be recreated with things you have around the house or can easily pick up at the dollar store. Speech skills can be reinforced with simple games and songs. Activities involving things like plastic shopping bags, soap bubbles, or the vibrations from your clothes drier can target sensory-integration problems. Let your imagination take the place of a purchase order to give your child a therapeutic experience on the cheap, then share your great ideas with other parents (and me -- I've got a kid needing some at-home therapy this summer, too!)
More Thrifty Thursday Inspirations from About.com Parenting:
- Phone Calls & Freebies for College Families
- Good Advice From a Grandma
- Enjoying a Staycation with Tweens
- Make Your Teen a Change Jar
- Save Money on Diapers
- Inexpensive Birthday Gifts for Preschoolers
- Find a Free Family Film Festival Near You
- Getting Acquainted with the Public Library
- Secondhand Safety for Baby
- 25 Free and Low-Cost Visitation Ideas
- What Are You Eating?
Photo by Terri Mauro